Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade had Humber marchers Page 6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2016
HUMBERETC.COM
VOLUME 54, ISSUE 11
LGBTQ+, Athletics launch #HERETOPLAY to fight hate in sport Joseph Amodio SPORTS REPORTER
“Sad, angry, defeated, scared. These are all the things I remember feeling when I experienced my first hate crime. I wasn’t yet 23 years old, around the same age as many of these players here tonight,” said Dean of Students Jen McMillen to a crowd of athletes and spectators on Wednesday night. Ahead of two highly anticipated men’s and women’s basketball games between Humber Hawks and the Mohawk Mountaineers, McMillen spoke about her experiences as an out lesbian working at an Ontario university.
“First, I received an email describing acts of violence against me. Next, our home was targeted by vandals. Finally, hateful and violent graffiti was scrawled at my work place. I share this only to answer the question that I imagine some people might be asking right now. ‘Why are we doing this tonight?’” The short ceremony including McMillen’s remarks launched #HERETOPLAY, a new initiative between Humber Athletics and the LGBTQ+ Resource Centre. The #HERETOPLAY campaign addresses many kinds discrimination in sport, including sexuality and
gender, culture or race. “The athletes here tonight, and ones like them all over this country, should be measured on their talent, their tenacity and their sportsmanship. They are here to play,” she said. McMillen said her story is still relevant two decades later as acts of hatred and violence remain prevalent in Canada. Flyers that promote discrimination and hate speech were found in East York and more recently at McGill University in Montreal. “This is a symbolic event to show students, staff and faculty that they’re not only welcomed but that they matter, we want to have them here,” she said.
“What is the relevance to Dec. 6 now from where we are today? It can happen to anyone,” Marsden said. “Recently we heard about a horrific story where a doctor was murdered by her husband. “Gender-based violence isn’t just women. It’s women, it’s men – it’s any gender. It can be a woman transitioning to a man. It’s not one or the other,” she said. Humber’s event was also combined with the International Day for Persons with Disability where Marsden also spoke against abuse of disabled women. “Many people say that one in four folks with disabilities experience abuse,” she said. “I would argue it’s one in three. Crimes aren’t always reported.” Among the presenters during the IGNITE-held event were four Humber students who presented the role of voiceless women. “I think it’s really important to bring awareness to this, and just actually bring statistics into it and show what really happens,” said Adriana Evanoff, one of the presenters. “People hear stories, but
they don’t hear the stories about it from the actual individuals.” Simran Aumar, one of the students involved in the presentation, said she got involved through an assignment for her politics class, but quickly realized the importance of the event. “It’s a really underreported issue, and this needs to be brought awareness,” she said. The event in remembrance of the 14 women killed in Montreal in 1989 was brought full circle when women were invited to take one of several red roses to commemorate the loss of women against violence. “Historically, when we look at violence against women or when we go to a funeral, we take a rose,” said Rita Kohli, advisor of Humber’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Diversity. “And historically, we have looked at these women as those who have never even bloomed into a rose. It’s a metaphor. Red is also the power of women. “When the targeting of women happened in the Montreal university, we chose this movement with 14 red roses so that they weren’t powerless women. There’s a history to tell, and they’ve given us a lot of insight for where we need to go,” she said. “We use the roses as a metaphor because they had beauty, resilience and represent women’s power.”
Gender-based violence still a top issue 27 years after Polytechnique massacre Tyson Lautenschlager NEWS REPORTER
Tuesday, Dec. 6 marked the 27th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal where 14 female students were killed in a horrific act of violence. Although it’s a dark day in Canada’s history, it’s one the country chooses to commemorate as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Humber College marked the day for the eighth year in a row with an event held in the Ignite Student Centre to remember all women who have fallen victim to violence, including Canada’s more than 1,200 missing and murdered indigenous women. Melanie Marsden, a coordinator of the women with disabilities and deaf women’s program at Springtide Resources, was a keynote speaker at the event where several faculty members and students were in attendance. Marsden, a proud disabled indigenous woman herself, spoke of the issues regarding all women standing up against violence.
Ajay Sharma, head coach of the Humber Hawks women’s basketball team, looks at inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ students as an important part of Humber’s core values. “I know that we have athletes that support that lifestyle, we have a very non-judgemental environment on our team, and we’re going to open our doors to everybody,” Sharma said. Ceejay Nofuente, Humber women’s basketball point guard, also gave her opinion on creating safe spaces, not only the LGBTQ+ community but for everyone. “We are open, bringing everyone together just shows that we’re not a
judgemental basketball team, we are here for everyone,” Nofuente said. While partnership with Humber Athletics is a milestone in Humber’s attempt to foster a safer, more inclusive campus for vulnerable students, McMillen still sees areas within Humber where opportunity exists for the institution to improve. “There can be particular barriers for members of the LGBTQ+ community in terms of accessing athletic facilities and we really wanted to make a statement,” she said. “The department of Athletics of Humber is really committed to ensuring that their doors are wide open.”
SARA FLOREZ
Melaine Mardsen, who works with disabled and deaf women, spoke to continued relevance of Ecole Polytechnique massacre even 27 years later.